France girds for protests, fearing more violence

PARIS -- Anticipating a fourth straight weekend of violent protests, France on Friday mobilized armored vehicles and thousands of police, cordoned off Paris' broad boulevards and made plans to shut down tourist sites such as the Eiffel Tower and Louvre.

The heavy security will put central Paris in a virtual lockdown against what the interior minister called "radicalized and rebellious people," who authorities believe will join members of the "yellow vest" movement holding anti-government demonstrations.

Nationwide, about 89,000 police will fan out in the streets, an increase from 65,000 last weekend, when more than 130 people were injured and at least 400 arrested as the protests degenerated into the worst street violence to hit the French capital in decades.

Fearing increasing violence, hundreds of businesses planned to close Saturday, preferring to lose a key holiday shopping day rather than have stores smashed and looted, like they were a week ago when protests over rising taxes turned into a riot. Workers hammered plywood over the windows of shops and businesses, making the plush Champs-Elysees neighborhood appear to be bracing for a hurricane.

"According to the information we have, some radicalized and rebellious people will try to get mobilized tomorrow," Interior Minister Christophe Castaner told a news conference. "Some ultra-violent people want to take part."

President Emmanuel Macron met Friday night with about 60 anti-riot security officers who will be deployed in Paris. He made the unannounced visit, without the press, to a fort used as military accommodation in Nogent-sur-Marne, east of Paris, and thanked the officers for their work.

About 8,000 police will be deployed across Paris, equipped with a dozen barricade-busting armored vehicles used for the first time in a French urban area since riots in 2005.

"These vehicles can be very useful to protect buildings," said Stanislas Gaudon, head of the Alliance police union. "And in case they set up barricades, we can quickly clear out the space and let our units progress."

Police removed any materials from the streets potentially used as weapons, especially at construction sites in high-risk areas. Those included the renowned Champs-Elysees, which would normally be packed with tourists and shoppers.

"It's with an immense sadness that we'll see our city partially brought to a halt, but your safety is our priority," said Mayor Anne Hidalgo. "Take care of Paris on Saturday because Paris belongs to all the French people."

As it did last weekend, the U.S. Embassy advised Americans to avoid the demonstrations.

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe scheduled a Friday night meeting with representatives of the yellow vest movement to try to open a dialogue, said government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux.

Since the unrest began Nov. 17 in response to a sharp increase in diesel taxes, four people have been killed in protest-related accidents. Now the demands of the "yellow vest" movement -- named for the fluorescent safety gear French motorists keep in their vehicles -- is pressing for a wider range of benefits from the government to help workers, retirees and students.

Macron on Wednesday agreed to abandon the fuel tax increase, but the protesters' anger at his government has not abated. Macron, since returning from the G-20 meeting last weekend, has kept largely out of sight, a move puzzling supporters and critics.

He has left his unpopular government to try to calm the nation. In response, "Macron, resign!" has become the main slogan of the "yellow vest" demonstrators.

The 40-year-old leader mostly spent the week holding closed-door meetings in the Elysee presidential palace, and many protesters consider him to be hiding from the people.